Dr. Mao:
One of my favorite subjects which is hormones, falls under the endocrine system. The endocrine system is very special because this encompasses all your hormonal production glands.

Starting with the pituitary and the pineal gland in your brain, then you got your hypothalamus, you got your thyroid, parathyroid, you have your thymus, and then it goes down to your ovaries, uterus, and adrenal gland. But don’t forget, pancreas is also a endocrine gland because it produces insulin.

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The main things that we are really talking about here relates to the overall health because there are so many glands that are producing all the various types of hormones that are so critical for every function in your body, in particular, the, all the repair and restoration functions.

Premature aging, in many instances, are due to insufficient hormonal system or the endocrine system that is not functioning optimally. So how do you get a good, functioning, optimal hormonal system? Well, I’ve got some food here that we can discuss because they are very good to help you ensure a balanced hormonal system. We don’t want a system that is hyperactive, nor do we want one that is under-active. We want one that’s balanced.

So I’ll start with yams. Yams and sweet potatoes are interchangeably in our purpose here, and this is one of these incredible vegetables that contain so many vital nutrients. Besides the fact that it’s rich in minerals like potassium, magnesium, it’s also, it also contains vital hormones, plant source hormones.

And of course, when you eat yams, you’re not necessarily going to experience an immediate jolt, but it does give you the ingredients, if you will, to help you produce more of the hormones that you need. So yams and sweet potatoes.

Celery, the common celery. My daughter loves celery. This is just one of these very special vegetables you can just pack in the lunch bag, and they'll just chew on it all day. It’s juicy, it’s sweet, it’s fun to eat.

Well, celery has many benefits and celery seeds. Now we boil, we make soups with celery seeds, for example, but the celery plant itself has also in Chinese medicine, beneficial properties for the hormonal system. It actually helps with pancreatic function, so in this case blood sugar balance, and it also helps to lower blood pressure and in general, helps to balance and strengthen the hormonal system.

The squash, pumpkins, my favorite ones are like kabocha squash, for example, contains various nutrients including vitamin A, beta-carotene, folic acid, and other types of nutrients and minerals. Also critical in Chinese medicine, considered a tonic vegetable to help strengthen your, your pancreas and your spleen, your digestion, so, fabulous.

Seaweed – this is nori. It’s known as nori. There are many different types of seaweed; they are called arame, wakame, kombu, iziki but this is nori. What they use to roll sushi with, for example.

Vegetables from the sea pounded into a flat sheet and then cut into sheets like this – wonderful as a substitute for tortilla in wraps, filled with trace minerals, over a 100 trace minerals, and obviously very good for thyroid because of its rich iodine and other mineral content.

We have black beans right here. The black beans, along with other beans like soy and kidney beans, all contain rich supply of vital estrogens, the vital hormones, and therefore, are also considered tonics for the hormonal system in Chinese medicine.

Mung beans, another type of beans. So this is very similar to lentils, but is really not lentils. These are smaller than lentils but also packs a punch when it comes to healthy functions to support the hormonal function.

And finally, we have millet. A lot of people had never eaten millet. I suggest you try it; it’s such a delicious grain. It sort of reminds me of couscous, very light and fluffy. Again, another one of these grains, I didn’t bring the other ones like amaranth and canola. Also considered what we call hormonal tonics.

So here you go; all the different foods that you can try to help to balance and ensure that you have an optimal functioning hormonal system.

About Maoshing Ni Ph.D., D.O.M., L.Ac., A.B.A.A.H.P.:
Dr. Mao, as he prefers to be called, is a 38th generation doctor of Chinese medicine, a Licensed Acupuncturist, a Diplomat of Chinese Herbology, and a Diplomat in Anti-Aging.
For over 20 years, Dr. Mao has been in general practice at Los Angeles, California’s Tao of Wellness, an acclaimed center for nutrition, Chinese medicine, and acupuncture, with special interest in immune, hormonal, and aging-related conditions. He is also the founder and Chancellor of the Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles that is considered the premiere school for Chinese medicine outside of China.